Mexican national team welcomes supplemental players

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Mexican coach Jose Manuel De La Torre advised anyone who doesn’t like the decision to replace the suspended players to complain to FIFA.

Mexican coach Jose Manuel De La Torre advised anyone who doesn’t like the decision to replace the suspended players to complain to FIFA.

Photo: Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press

Mexican national team welcomes supplemental players

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The Mexican national team welcomed Paul Aguilar, Hector Reynoso and Hiram Mier to replace five players who tested positive for clumbuterol earlier in the competition.

“We can’t wait on others to act,” Mexican head coach Jose Manuel De La Torre said. “We needed to have a plan and react immediately. And we did. We choose them (supplemental players) to prevent any mishap that might happen. They fill in a position where we could use extra players.”

Mier was the first player to arrive in Houston on Monday. The 21-year-old defender from Monterey was training with the Mexican U-22 team that was preparing for the Copa America.

“I’m proud to be here,” Mier said. “Everyone called up is proud to play for Mexico. It’s motivating and we’re all here to give our best.”

De La Torre advised anyone who doesn’t like the decision to complain to FIFA. FIFA and CONCACAF notified the Mexican national team on Sunday prior to the team’s arrival in Houston.

“It was a surprise for me and now I’m just here to do the same thing I do with my club,” Reynoso said. “I came to work, to assimilate into the team like I did with the U-22 team and that’s what is on my mind. I came to realize a dream and do what’s required with a great group of human beings that welcomed me yesterday.”

This is the first time Reynoso has been selected to participate in an official tournament with the national team, an accomplishment Reynoso says he is enjoying day by day.

“This is the way football is. There’s no timeline so I’m enjoying this experience that has come at a price,” Reynoso said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’ll enjoy it. I’m here to do what I do best and I hope it helps the team accomplish our goal of winning the cup.”

Luis Michel and Marco Fabian were also selected to supplement the team, but they remained with the U-22 team until further notice. They have been listed as emergency players.

“We have a game left and our biggest need was in the defense,” De La Torre said. “Up front we have more options and as far as goalkeeper, Michel needed to stay in Mexico to support the U-22 team.”

The evening practice was cancelled to give players time to rest and according to De La Torre the time slot was challenging due to their normal routine. De La Torre did not say how he would play Honduras, but he did focus on penalty kicks in practice before his press conference.

“Honduras does not have one focal point. They’ve done things the way they should to get here,” De La Torre said. “They are a very well-coached team. I’m not worried about one or two players rather the team, who deserves to be where it’s at.”

This is the first official tournament for De La Torre who took over in October, after winning three league titles in Mexico with Chivas de Guadalajara and Club Deportivo Toluca.

”I know that this job brings a great responsibility. I don’t change the way I do things,” De La Torre said. “ It’s the same way I’ve done it with my clubs and the difference is that the stage is much bigger for the national team. The best part is how the players train and give it their all. Regardless of whether we win or lose, they don’t give up and that’s important.”